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Coronavirus: UK government unveils aid for self-employed Coronavirus: UK government unveils aid for self-employed
(32 minutes later)
Self-employed workers can apply for a grant worth 80% of their average monthly profits to help them cope with the financial impact of coronavirus, the chancellor has announced.Self-employed workers can apply for a grant worth 80% of their average monthly profits to help them cope with the financial impact of coronavirus, the chancellor has announced.
The money - up to a maximum of £2,500 a month - will be paid in a single lump sum, but will not begin to arrive until the start of June at the earliest.The money - up to a maximum of £2,500 a month - will be paid in a single lump sum, but will not begin to arrive until the start of June at the earliest.
Rishi Sunak told the self-employed: "You have not been forgotten."Rishi Sunak told the self-employed: "You have not been forgotten."
Wage subsidies of 80% for salaried employees were announced last week.Wage subsidies of 80% for salaried employees were announced last week.
Shortly after the chancellor spoke, the number of people in the UK who have died with Covid-19 - the disease caused by coronavirus - jumped by more than 100 in a day for the first time.Shortly after the chancellor spoke, the number of people in the UK who have died with Covid-19 - the disease caused by coronavirus - jumped by more than 100 in a day for the first time.
The total now stands at 578.The total now stands at 578.
The government had faced criticism for failing to provide support for self-employed and freelance workers in its earlier huge package of economic measures.The government had faced criticism for failing to provide support for self-employed and freelance workers in its earlier huge package of economic measures.
Mr Sunak said the steps taken so far were "already making a difference" but it was right to go further "in the economic fight against the coronavirus".Mr Sunak said the steps taken so far were "already making a difference" but it was right to go further "in the economic fight against the coronavirus".
The scheme does not cover people who only became self-employed very recently - the chancellor said they would have to look to the benefits system for support.The scheme does not cover people who only became self-employed very recently - the chancellor said they would have to look to the benefits system for support.
Coming up with a workable scheme had been "difficult", he said, because the self-employed were a "diverse population" and some of them earned a great deal.Coming up with a workable scheme had been "difficult", he said, because the self-employed were a "diverse population" and some of them earned a great deal.
But in all, the "fair, targeted and deliverable" plan would help 95% of people who earn most of their income via self-employment.But in all, the "fair, targeted and deliverable" plan would help 95% of people who earn most of their income via self-employment.
"We have not left you behind, we all stand together," he added."We have not left you behind, we all stand together," he added.
The Federation of Small Business, which represents many self-employed workers, welcomed the intervention, saying: "Although the deal is not perfect, the government has moved a very long way today."The Federation of Small Business, which represents many self-employed workers, welcomed the intervention, saying: "Although the deal is not perfect, the government has moved a very long way today."
Labour's shadow chancellor John McDonnell said he was worried the money would come "too late for millions".Labour's shadow chancellor John McDonnell said he was worried the money would come "too late for millions".
"People need support in the coming days and fortnight... there is a real risk that without support until June the self-employed will feel they have to keep working, putting their own and others' health at risk.""People need support in the coming days and fortnight... there is a real risk that without support until June the self-employed will feel they have to keep working, putting their own and others' health at risk."
Torsten Bell, from think tank the Resolution Foundation, said the very significant package stood in "stark contrast" to the "much less generous" support being given to employees who lose their jobs or see their hours cut during the crisis.
The Coronavirus Self-Employment Income Support scheme is another extraordinary multi-billion pound support, reflecting the brutal economic impact of a shutdown designed to keep the pandemic in check.The Coronavirus Self-Employment Income Support scheme is another extraordinary multi-billion pound support, reflecting the brutal economic impact of a shutdown designed to keep the pandemic in check.
In recent days, Treasury ministers appeared to be trying to dampen down expectations, telling MPs it was problematic to establish a fair scheme, and the employee job retention scheme would be the logistical priority. The government wants to set up the scheme to keep employed jobs as the priority first. So the banks will need to be relied on to support many of these self-employed with overdrafts to tide them over till the grant goes in their bank accounts in about 10 weeks' time.In recent days, Treasury ministers appeared to be trying to dampen down expectations, telling MPs it was problematic to establish a fair scheme, and the employee job retention scheme would be the logistical priority. The government wants to set up the scheme to keep employed jobs as the priority first. So the banks will need to be relied on to support many of these self-employed with overdrafts to tide them over till the grant goes in their bank accounts in about 10 weeks' time.
The sting in the tail? The chancellor said he can no longer justify, after things get back to normal, that self-employed people pay less tax than the employed. But that is for another day.The sting in the tail? The chancellor said he can no longer justify, after things get back to normal, that self-employed people pay less tax than the employed. But that is for another day.
In the UK, more than 11,600 people have now tested positive for the virus - although the actual number of cases is likely to be far higher.In the UK, more than 11,600 people have now tested positive for the virus - although the actual number of cases is likely to be far higher.
The peak of demand for intensive care was expected to come in two to three weeks, but speaking alongside the chancellor at Thursday's briefing, England's deputy chief medical officer, Dr Jenny Harries, refused to be drawn on any predictions.The peak of demand for intensive care was expected to come in two to three weeks, but speaking alongside the chancellor at Thursday's briefing, England's deputy chief medical officer, Dr Jenny Harries, refused to be drawn on any predictions.
She said the UK was "only just starting to see a bite in the interventions - the social distancing - that have been put into place", but things appeared to be "starting to move in the right direction".She said the UK was "only just starting to see a bite in the interventions - the social distancing - that have been put into place", but things appeared to be "starting to move in the right direction".
The government has imposed strict controls on everyday life designed to slow the spread of the disease.The government has imposed strict controls on everyday life designed to slow the spread of the disease.
In other developments:In other developments: